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Head of Research Economics

On-site in London·Added today (last checked 7 Nov)

Cabinet Office

44 open roles

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Our summary

Salary
£71,734 - £83,355 a year

About £4,350 - £4,910 a month after tax.

Work mode
On-site, London
Experience
Senior level
Closing date
Apply by Sunday 29 November
Holiday
25 days holiday
Pension
28.97% employer pension

Skills

Nice to have

Requirements

What we're looking for

  • A PhD in economics or equivalent experience delivering complex research projects end-to-end.
  • Proven leadership in building happy, high-performing, diverse teams and developing a positive culture and working environment.
  • Experience in managing significant research projects in collaboration with others.
  • Demonstrated ability to conceive, design, execute, write up and present a complete research paper that advances a novel idea or contributes meaningfully to the literature - ownership of the full research lifecycle.
  • Deep expertise in a relevant applied field (e.g. labour, public, IO, macro, political economy, financial, competition) plus a strong and evolving understanding of the economics of AI, including the ability to critically assess published and working papers in a fast-moving field.
  • Ability to read, understand and critically assess the relevant theoretical literature, and to leverage theory to motivate empirical work and interpret findings.
  • Experience working with diverse data types (e.g. structured and unstructured, administrative, text-as-data, survey, web-scraped) and the ability to identify novel data sources and to collect, link and validate data independently.
  • Strong coding and reproducibility skills - proficient in Python, ideally also R and/or Stata (or the standard for the field), comfortable with Git and version control, and able to write and quality assure clean, well-documented, reproducible code, including using LLMs and AI tools in the research workflow. For the modelling pillar, knowledge of other relevant software (e.g. Dynare, MATLAB and/or Julia) would be beneficial.
  • Ability to explain complex economic concepts, methods and findings clearly to both technical and non-technical audiences, with a track record of communicating research externally, and producing and publishing high-quality outputs.
  • A willingness to challenge conventional wisdom, question assumptions in others' and one's own work, tolerate ambiguity, and change direction as new evidence arrives.
  • Data & Empirical Research: Strong command of a range of causal inference methods (e.g. difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, panel/fixed-effects methods, regression discontinuity, synthetic control, experimental design). Critically, the ability not just to apply a method but to evaluate whether it can identify a causal effect - understanding its identifying assumptions, threats to identification and limitations - together with the instinct to run robustness checks, pre-specify where appropriate, and apply replication standards.
  • Modelling & Scenarios: Ability to build, calibrate and solve structural macroeconomic models (e.g. DSGE, semi-structural, CGE) and command of the relevant solution methods. Judgement about when a model is sufficiently general yet precise enough to answer the question. Ability to fit models to data (e.g. calibration, GMM). Ability to reason about feedback loops, second-round effects and equilibrium consequences. Combining a deep knowledge of established macroeconomic modelling approaches and assumptions with a willingness to diverge from those approaches and assumptions to test more radical, structural changes that AI could bring.

Pay & benefits

What you'll get

£71,734 - £83,355

London: Base of £76,454 - £83,355, plus £15,000 Recruitment and Retention Allowance (Total of £91,454 - £98,355)
National: Base of £71,734 - £76,724, plus £15,000 Recruitment and Retention Allowance (Total of £86,734 - £91,724)

A Civil Service Pension with an employer contribution of 28.97%

Alongside your salary of £71,734, Cabinet Office contributes £20,781 towards you being a member of the Civil Service Defined Benefit Pension scheme. Find out what benefits a Civil Service Pension provides (opens in a new window).

  • Learning and development tailored to your role.
  • An environment with flexible working options.
  • A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity.
  • A Civil Service Pension which provides an attractive pension, benefits for dependants and employer contributions of 28.97%.
  • A minimum of 25 days of paid annual leave, increasing by one day per year up to a maximum of 30.

Visa & relocation

This job is broadly open to the following groups:

  • UK nationals
  • nationals of the Republic of Ireland
  • nationals of Commonwealth countries who have the right to work in the UK
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities with settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS) (opens in a new window)
  • nationals of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein and family members of those nationalities who have made a valid application for settled or pre-settled status under the European Union Settlement Scheme (EUSS)
  • individuals with limited leave to remain or indefinite leave to remain who were eligible to apply for EUSS on or before 31 December 2020
  • Turkish nationals, and certain family members of Turkish nationals, who have accrued the right to work in the Civil Service

Further information on nationality requirements (opens in a new window)

The role

Lead primary research within one of the AIEI's two pillars - either designing and delivering frontier empirical work, or designing and developing the Institute's economic models and scenario frameworks. Heads of Research Economics own significant research workstreams, set methodological standards and mentor junior researchers, bringing specialist academic or applied expertise to bear on the economics of AI. They work with the relevant Head of Analysis to align the research portfolio with policy demand and to ensure findings are translated into decision-relevant insight.

We are recruiting for up to 2 roles under this advert: 1 to lead the Modelling & Scenarios work programme; 1 to lead the Data & Empirical Research work programme. Please make clear which role you are most interested in.

Roles are advertised as permanent positions, but we are open to these being arranged as secondments.

The AI Economics Institute (AIEI) is a joint research organisation of HM Treasury and the Office for the Prime Minister and Cabinet (OPMC). The AIEI has been established to build and maintain the analytical capability needed to put the UK government at the forefront of understanding AI's economic impacts. Announced by the Chancellor in the March 2026 Mais Lecture and launched in June 2026, it is the first government-backed institute of its kind in the world.

AI has the potential to substantially reshape the structure of firms, sectors, and labour markets. The opportunities are extraordinary. AI could drive productivity gains and unlock new sources of growth. At the same time, the transition also carries risks depending on the pace of technological development and how the economy adapts. The AIEI exists to build the data infrastructure, research capability and external relationships needed to assess these impacts rigorously and at pace, and to ensure the resulting evidence informs policy makers. The Institute will assess both opportunities and risks under a range of scenarios, examining how AI affects productivity, labour markets, firms, growth and the income distribution, with particular attention to how the gains are shared across regions, income groups, sectors and generations.

The AIEI is not a policy-setting body. UK government departments remain responsible for policy decisions in response to AI. The Institute's role is to improve the quality and timeliness of the evidence and analysis on which those decisions rest. It focuses on priorities where it has a comparative advantage as a research institute at the heart of government, avoiding duplication of work that can happen equally well elsewhere, and engaging widely with academia, business and civil society to inform its work and contribute to public understanding.

The AIEI is modelled on the AI Security Institute, particularly in its research focus, its approach to bringing in external talent, and its access to advanced tools. It is a small, high-calibre organisation, planning to grow to around 35 FTE by the end of its first year. It will bring together talented civil servants with Research Economists who have hands-on experience of delivering frontier economic research. It is chaired by Nobel Prize winning economist and former Chief Economist of the IMF, Simon Johnson. A world-first ambition is to link private sector data, including AI usage data, to government administrative data, providing a unique and rich data ecosystem for empirical research. The Institute's ambitions for developing world leading macroeconomic modelling capability are similarly high.

The AIEI's research function is organised around two complementary pillars set out in the published prospectus. All four role types in this campaign are being recruited into one of these two pillars, depending on the specialism of the candidate:

  • Data & Empirical Research - developing the data infrastructure, measurement frameworks and empirical research needed to establish an evidence-based picture of AI's economic effects as they develop, including causal analysis of AI's impacts on productivity, labour markets, firms and workers.
  • Modelling & Scenarios - connecting potential pathways for AI's development and adoption to economy-wide outcomes, building cutting edge economic models and plausible but stretching scenarios, testing assumptions, and ensuring policy conclusions are robust to the uncertainty that remains.

Each research pillar brings together two complementary types of role. In this recruitment campaign, we are hiring for both role types, at G6 and G7:

  • Research Economists (this advert) lead the most technical primary research projects, including methodologically demanding, causal empirical studies, and development of novel, robust economic modelling tools. This work will ensure the Institute's evidence base is of the highest quality and at the frontier of understanding. These roles require deep, specialist technical skills, typically including a PhD and/or a track record of producing high-quality research.
  • Analysts bridge the gap between technical research and policy, carrying out a mix of their own primary research and analysis that synthesises internal and external evidence to answer policy-facing research questions. They are strong analysts in their own right, and their distinctive contribution is helping to answer the questions that matter most in government, drawing out the clear, policy-relevant insight to inform decisions. These roles demand the judgement and influence to drive research impact at the centre of government. Analyst teams will be interdisciplinary, covering the four Government analytical professions (economics, social research, statistics, operational research).

Both role types are essential, work side by side within each pillar, and carry equal standing in the Institute. The distinction is one of emphasis, not calibre: Research Economists lead frontier research; analysts deliver research and analysis that is policy-relevant, well-directed and lands with impact. Project teams may combine both roles, with responsibilities agreed according to the technical and policy-facing needs of each project. Whichever route you come in through, you will be working on the same critical questions - how AI impacts productivity, work, firms and growth - with unique access to data and modelling capability and proximity to policy decisions. The roles will also work together as a coherent research function, all contributing to the same research agenda, with strong collaboration across team boundaries.

What you'll do

  • Create a positive and inclusive team culture and working environment, prioritising team wellbeing, mentoring team members, promoting development opportunities, and ensuring the team is well represented, visible, and their work is championed both internally and externally.
  • Lead the design and delivery of frontier primary research workstreams.
  • Set and assure methodological standards for the pillar, and act as a technical point of reference for junior analyst and research colleagues.
  • Work with the Heads of Analysis to identify which questions matter most - determining what is policy-relevant, feasible, and would make a meaningful contribution - and avoid duplicating work done better elsewhere.
  • Engage with the external research community (academia, other institutes, AI labs) and represent the Institute's research externally.
  • Mentor and support junior Research Economists and collaborate closely with Analysts to ensure research is policy-relevant.
  • Data & Empirical Research: oversee the most technical empirical research projects, development of novel data sources and data pipelines, and assessment of internal evidence and research quality.
  • Modelling & Scenarios: oversee the development of new modelling frameworks and tools, ensure that modelling assumptions have a sound empirical and theoretical basis, and assessment of internal modelling quality.

How you'll work

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Apply before

Apply before 11:55 pm on Sunday 29th November 2026

Reference number

488112

Job grade

Grade 6

Contract type

Permanent

Type of role

Economist

Number of jobs available

2

Location

Darlington, London, Manchester

Behaviours

We'll assess you against these behaviours during the selection process:

  • Seeing the Big Picture
  • Leadership
  • Delivering at Pace
  • Working Together

Technical skills

We'll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • Economics skills listed in person specification

Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence can be a useful tool to support your application, however, all examples and statements provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, as your own) applications may be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action. Please see our candidate guidance (opens in a new window) for more information on appropriate and inappropriate use.

Expected timeline (subject to change)

  • Expected sift date - w/c 30 November 2026
  • Expected interview date/s - w/c 7 December 2026 to w/c 14 December 2026

  • Interview location - Video interview via Microsoft Teams

Information session

An online information session will be held on Thursday 12th November at 13.00. To register for the session please email AIEI@dsit.gov.uk with subject "Research recruitment information session". Attendance will be anonymous.

Job contact

  • Name : Jack Snape
  • Email : AIEI@dsit.gov.uk

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Hiring process

This vacancy is using Success Profiles (opens in a new window), and will assess your Behaviours, Experience and Technical skills.

You will be asked to provide:

  • a CV
  • a personal statement of no more than 500 words, explaining how your skills and experience meet the essential criteria. Please use specific examples and say which research pillar you'd prefer: Data & Empirical Research, or Modelling & Scenarios.

Should a large number of applications be received, an initial sift may be undertaken using the personal statement.

  • Take-home technical exercise (offline test): a short written exercise based on a realistic problem the role would face. It should take around three hours, and you'll have one working week to complete it.
  • Interview 1: a conversation about your experience and motivation for the role. It's also a chance for you to find out more about the AIEI.
  • Interview 2: a technical and behavioural interview, including a discussion of your take-home exercise. We'll assess the Behaviours Seeing the Big Picture, Leadership, Delivering at Pace and Working Together, alongside the technical skills outlined in the essential criteria.
  • Conversation with a senior leader: an informal conversation with a member of the AIEI senior leadership team about the role, the Institute's ambitions and your motivations.

For Behaviours, use the link here to understand the expectations at the grade of role you are applying for: Grade 6.

We highly recommend learning about Success Profiles and using the Situation, Task, Action, Result and Reflection (STARR) framework when structuring your answers. In your examples you should include evidence on 'how' you demonstrated the requirements and the impact of your work, as well as 'what' you did

About Cabinet Office

Industry
Government Administration

In their own words

About the company & team

AI Economics Institute

  • Email : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk

Additional information

Cabinet Office policy is that a minimum 60% of your working time should be spent at your principal workplace. For some roles, due to their nature and the business need, this may be up to 100%. Requirements to attend other locations for official business will also count towards this level of attendance.

If a person with disabilities is put at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, we have a duty to make reasonable changes to our processes.

If you need a change to be made so that you can make your application, you should:

  • Contact Government Recruitment Service via cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk as soon as possible before the closing date to discuss your needs.
  • Complete the "Assistance required" section in the "Additional requirements" page of your application form to tell us what changes or help you might need further on in the process. For instance, you may need wheelchair access at interview, or if you're deaf, a Language Service Professional.

If you are experiencing accessibility problems with any attachments on this advert, please contact the email address in the 'contact point for applicants' section.

Please note terms and conditions are attached. Please take time to read the document to determine how these may affect you.

Please note that this role requires CTC clearance, which would normally need 3 years' UK residency in the past 3 years. This is not an absolute requirement, but supplementary checks may be needed where individuals have not lived in the UK for that period. This may mean your security clearance (and therefore your appointment) will take longer or, in some cases, not be possible.

For further information on National Security Vetting please visit the Demystifying Vetting website.

Please be aware the levels of national security clearance are changing which may impact on the level needed for this role by the time of appointment. All efforts will be made to keep candidates informed of any changes and what that will mean in terms of vetting criteria. For more information please See our vetting charter

A reserve list will be held for a period of 12 months, from which further appointments can be made.

Any move to Cabinet Office from another employer will mean you can no longer access childcare vouchers. This includes moves between government departments. You may however be eligible for other government schemes, including Tax Free Childcare; for further information visit the Childcare Choices website.

If successful and transferring from another Government Department a criminal record check may be carried out.

In order to process applications without delay, we will be sending a Criminal Record Check to Disclosure and Barring Service on your behalf.

However, we recognise in exceptional circumstances some candidates will want to send their completed forms direct. If you will be doing this, please advise Government Recruitment Service of your intention by emailing Pre-EmploymentChecks.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk stating the job reference number in the subject heading.

New entrants are expected to join on the minimum of the pay band.

Applicants who are successful at interview will be, as part of pre-employment screening, subject to a check on the Internal Fraud Database (IFD). This check will provide information about employees who have been dismissed for fraud or dishonesty offences. This check also applies to employees who resign or otherwise leave before being dismissed for fraud or dishonesty had their employment continued. Any applicant's details held on the IFD will be refused employment.

A candidate is not eligible to apply for a role within the Civil Service if the application is made within a 5 year period following a dismissal for carrying out internal fraud against government.

Feedback will only be provided if you attend an interview or assessment.

Successful candidates must undergo a basic (or equivalent) criminal record check.

Successful candidates must meet the security requirements before they can be appointed. The level of security needed is counter-terrorist check (opens in a new window).

See our vetting charter (opens in a new window).

People working with government assets must complete baseline personnel security standard (opens in new window) checks.

The Civil Service Code (opens in a new window) sets out the standards of behaviour expected of civil servants.

We recruit by merit on the basis of fair and open competition, as outlined in the Civil Service Commission's recruitment principles (opens in a new window).

The Civil Service embraces diversity and promotes equal opportunities. As such, we run a Disability Confident Scheme (DCS) for candidates with disabilities who meet the minimum selection criteria.

The Civil Service also offers a Redeployment Interview Scheme to civil servants who are at risk of redundancy, and who meet the minimum requirements for the advertised vacancy.

The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan (opens in a new window) and the Civil Service Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (opens in a new window).

This vacancy is part of the Great Place to Work for Veterans (opens in a new window) initiative.

The Civil Service welcomes applications from people who have recently left prison or have an unspent conviction. Read more about prison leaver recruitment (opens in new window).

Once this job has closed, the job advert will no longer be available. You may want to save a copy for your records.

Appointment to the Civil Service is governed by the Civil Service Commission's Recruitment Principles. If you feel that your application has not been treated in accordance with the Recruitment Principles, and wish to make a complaint, then in the first instance you should contact Government Recruitment Service by email at : cabinetofficerecruitment.grs@cabinetoffice.gov.uk
If you are not satisfied with the response you receive, then you can contact the Civil Service Commission at info@csc.gov.uk. For further information on the Recruitment Principles and bringing a complaint to the Civil Service Commission, please visit their website at: https://civilservicecommission.independent.gov.uk/.

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